Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

An improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head comprises: a base
having a first and a second holder plates, a first through hole being
formed on the first holder plate, and a gap being formed between the
first and second holder plates; a fixing base plate being fixed onto the
first holder plate and having a second through hole formed at the center,
and the two sides of the second through hole comprising a third through
hole respectively; an engaging elastic member being disposed onto the
fixing base plate and having a fourth through hole formed at the center,
and both ends of the engaging elastic member are passed through the third
through holes respectively for fixing the engaging elastic member onto
the fixed base plate; and a magnetic head module being passed into the
first, second and fourth through holes for contacting a card and reading
data.

Claims:

1. An improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head, comprising: a
base, comprising: a first holder plate, having a first through hole
formed thereon; and a second holder plate, with a side coupled to a
corresponding side of the first holder plate, and a gap being formed
between the first holder plate and the second holder plate for passing
and reading a card; a fixing base plate, being fixed onto a surface of
the first holder plate opposite to the one adjacent to the second holder
plate, and both sides of the fixing base plate having a protrusion
respectively, and the two protrusions being bent and protruded toward the
direction opposite to the direction of connecting the fixing base plate
with the first holder plate, and the two protrusions and a central area
of the fixing base plate being disposed on different planes, and a second
through hole being formed at the center of the fixing base plate, and the
second through hole having dimensions and a position corresponding to
those of the first through hole of the first holder plate, and both sides
of the second through hole having a third through hole respectively, and
the third through holes having a range extended to an edge of the
protrusion; an engaging elastic member, being disposed onto a surface of
the fixing base plate opposite to the one adjacent to the first holder
plate, and both ends of the engaging elastic member passing into the
third through holes respectively, and the passed portion being placed
between the protrusion of the fixing base plate and the first holder
plate, and a fourth through hole being formed at the center of the
engaging elastic member, and the fourth through hole having a size and a
position corresponding to those of the first through hole of the first
holder plate and the second through hole of the fixing base plate; and a
magnetic head module, being passed into the first through hole, the
second through hole and the fourth through hole, and a partial surface of
the magnetic head module being exposed from the gap between the first
holder plate and the second holder plate for contacting a card and
reading data.

2. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive plate electrically
coupled to the magnetic head module for transmitting data obtained from
reading the card by the magnetic head module to a specific electronic
device and processing the data.

3. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 1, wherein the fixing base plate is fixed onto the first holder
plate through screw.

4. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 1, wherein the fixing base plate is fixed onto the first holder
plate by soldering.

5. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 1, wherein the fixing base plate is fixed onto the first holder
plate by engaging.

6. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the two protrusions of the fixing base
plate towards the first holder plate are disposed with a protruding
pillar for positioning the engaging elastic member.

7. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 6, wherein the two ends of the engaging elastic member comprises an
engaging through hole separately, so that when both ends of the engaging
elastic member are passed through the third through hole, the engaging
elastic member can be engaged to the protruding pillar by the engaging
through hole to enhance the stability of coupling the engaging elastic
member with the fixing base plate.

8. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 6, wherein one end of the engaging elastic member comprises an
engaging through hole and another end of the engaging elastic member
comprises a positioning slot, so that when both ends of the engaging
elastic member are passed into the third through holes respectively, the
engaging through hole can be engaged with the protruding pillar on the
fixing base plate to further improve the stability of coupling the
engaging elastic member with the fixing base plate, and the positioning
slot being loosely coupled with the protruding pillar for propping the
magnetic head module and the engaging elastic member to a small distance
when a card is contacted with the magnetic head module, so that the
positioning slot is displaced with respect to the protruding pillar to
provide a shock absorbing effect to avoid the structure of the engaging
elastic member from being deformed by the propping.

9. The improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head according to
claim 1, wherein the two ends of the fourth through hole of the engaging
elastic member comprises a vertical stop plate respectively, so that when
the magnetic head module is passed through the fourth through hole, the
two stop plates can position the magnetic head module and prevent the
magnetic head module from being shaken or loosened.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an elastic member structure of a
magnetic head, and more particularly to an improved structure of a
magnetic head with a fixing way.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Using a magnetic card for a financial transaction such as making a
payment or transferring money has become an integral part of our daily
life. Other applications of the magnetic cards including door security
control and personal identification are also used extensively, and thus a
magnetic head fixing structure of a card reader for reading data from a
magnetic strip of the magnetic card becomes more important as the scope
of applicability of the magnetic card becomes broader.

[0005] When a magnetic head of the card reader reads data from the
magnetic strip, the magnetic head and the magnetic strip must be attached
closely with each other before the magnetic head can read the data from
the magnetic strip effectively, and thus the magnetic head must be
coupled to an elastic element, and the elasticity of the elastic element
can provide an appropriate moving distance for the magnetic head to move
with respect to the thickness of the magnetic card, so that when the
magnetic card is passed through the magnetic head, the magnetic head is
pushed by the magnetic card to produce an elastic restoring force, and
the magnetic head is attached closely to the magnetic strip for reading
the data stored in the magnetic strip. If the magnetic head and the
magnetic strip are attached too closely or not closely enough, then the
friction produced by sliding the magnetic strip through the magnetic head
may damage the magnetic head and the magnetic strip easily or cause a
failure of reading data.

[0006] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 for an exploded view and a
perspective view of a conventional fixing structure of a magnetic head of
a card reader, the magnetic head A10 is fixed at the center of a elastic
member A11, and a circular hole A12 and a rectangular hole A13 are formed
at both ends of the elastic member A11 respectively, and two screws A14,
A15 are used for locking the elastic member A11 onto a base A16, and the
magnetic head A10 is exposed from a slide groove A17, so that when a user
inserts a card into the slide groove A17, the magnetic head A10 will be
in contact with a magnetic strip of the card for reading data, and the
magnetic head A10 will be pushed and displaced by the card, and the
elastic member A11 will be displaced together with the magnetic head, and
the circular hole A12 acts as a fixing end and the rectangular hole A13
acts as a pressing end to produce a deformation in an arc shape, and the
rectangular hole A13 appropriately provides a contractible space for the
displacement of the ends during the arc deformation of the elastic member
A11, so as to prevent the magnetic head A10 from being rigidity contacted
to the magnetic strip and avoid excessive wearing or poor reading.

[0007] However, the elastic member of the conventional magnetic head is
fixed directly onto the base by a screw connection or soldering method.
Although the screw connection and soldering methods are simple, easily
and cost saving, yet it takes more time and labor to remove the screws or
the solder for maintaining, repairing or replacing the magnetic head or
the elastic member of the magnetic head, and these are the major
drawbacks of a fixed magnetic head.

[0008] Furthermore, the conventional way of fixing the elastic member of
the magnetic head onto the base by the screw connection method usually
produces non-uniform locking pressure and results in a poor reading of
data or even a damage of components.

[0009] In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, it has to provide an
improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head to improve the level
of simplicity and convenience of installing or removing the elastic
member of the magnetic head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The inventor of the present invention based on years of experience
in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments,
and finally developed an improved elastic member structure of a magnetic
head.

[0011] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head that provides a
secured connection of the elastic member and the magnetic head and simple
and easy installation and removal by means of improving the connection of
related components.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head that increases the
stability of the structure to prevent any displacement or structural
deformation when a card is read.

[0013] A further objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head that includes an
engaging elastic member for stabilizing the pressure of connecting the
magnetic head module to improve the card reading efficiency and prevent
poor data reading.

[0014] To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides
an improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head, comprising: a
base, including a first holder plate, and a first through hole formed on
the base; a second holder plate, with a side coupled to a side of the
first holder plate, and a gap being formed between the first holder plate
and the second holder plate for passing through a card to read the card;
a fixing base plate, being fixed onto a surface of the first holder plate
opposite to the one adjacent to the second holder plate, and both sides
of the fixing base plate having a protrusion separately, and the two
protrusions being bent and protruded toward the direction opposite to the
one that the fixing base plate connected to the first holder plate,
wherein the two protrusions and the central area of the fixing base plate
are disposed on different planes, and the fixing base plate including a
second through hole formed at the center, and the size and position of
the second through hole correspond to the first through hole of the first
holder plate, and both sides of the second through hole having a third
through hole separately, and the range of forming the third through holes
are extended to an edge of the protrusion; an engaging elastic member,
being disposed onto a surface of the fixing base plate opposite to the
one adjacent to the first holder plate, wherein both ends of the engaging
elastic member are passed into the third through holes respectively, and
a portion of the passed end is placed between the protrusion of the
fixing base plate and the first holder plate, and the engaging elastic
member includes a fourth through hole formed at the center, and the size
and position of the fourth through hole correspond to the first through
hole of the first holder plate and the second through hole of the fixing
base plate; and a magnetic head module, being passed into the first
through hole, the second through hole and the fourth through hole, and a
portion of a surface of the magnetic head module is exposed from the gap
between the first holder plate and the second holder plate for contacting
with a card and reading data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional fixing structure of a
magnetic head of a card reader;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional fixing structure of
a magnetic head of a card reader;

[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an improved elastic member structure
of a magnetic head in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved elastic member
structure of the magnetic head in accordance with the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the improved elastic member structure
including a fixing base plate, an engaging elastic member and a magnetic
head module in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention with another viewing angle;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the improved elastic member
structure including the fixing base plate, the engaging elastic member
and the magnetic head module of the magnetic head in accordance with the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention with another viewing
angle;

[0021] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the improved elastic member structure
of the magnetic head in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the improved elastic member structure
including the fixing base plate, the engaging elastic member and the
magnetic head module in accordance with the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention with another viewing angle; and

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the improved elastic member
structure including the fixing base plate, the engaging elastic member
and the magnetic head module of the magnetic head in accordance with the
second preferred embodiment of the present invention with another viewing
angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The structural assembly, overall operation and technical
characteristics of the present invention will become apparent with the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the illustration of
the related drawings as follows.

[0025] To achieve the foregoing objectives and effects, the inventor of
the present invention adopts a fixing base plate together with an elastic
member of a magnetic head, and uses a passing and engaging method for
connecting them, and constantly makes adjustments and corrections to
obtain an improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head in
accordance with the present invention. The overall structure and
technical characteristics of an improved elastic member structure of a
magnetic head in accordance with the present invention will be
demonstrated by first and second preferred embodiments as follows.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 for an exploded view and a
perspective view of an improved elastic member structure of a magnetic
head in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention respectively, the improved elastic member structure of a
magnetic head 1 includes:

[0027] a base 100, including: a first holder plate 101, including a first
through hole 102 formed thereon; and a second holder plate 103, having a
side coupled to a side of the first holder plate 101, and a gap 104 being
formed between the first holder plate 101 and the second holder plate 103
for passing a card and reading data;

[0028] a fixing base plate 110, being fixed on a surface of the first
holder plate 101 opposite to the one adjacent to the second holder plate
103, and two protrusions 111a, 111b being formed separately on both sides
of the fixing base plate 110, wherein the two protrusions 111a, 111b are
bent and protruded toward a direction opposite to the one of connecting
the fixing base plate 110 with the first holder plate 101, and the two
protrusions 111a, 111b and the central area of the fixing base plate 110
are disposed on different planes, and the central area of the fixing base
plate 110 includes a second through hole 112, and the size and position
of the second through hole 112 are correspond to those of the first
through hole 102 of the first holder plate 101, and two third through
holes 113a, 113b are formed separately on both sides of the second
through hole 112, and the range of forming the third through hole 113a,
113b is extended to an edge of the protrusion 111a, 111b;

[0029] an engaging elastic member 120, being disposed onto a surface of
the fixing base plate 110 opposite to the one adjacent to the first
holder plate 101, wherein both ends of the engaging elastic member 120
are passed into the third through holes 113a, 113b respectively, and the
passed portion is placed between the protrusion 111a, 111b of the fixing
base plate 110 and the first holder plate 101, and a fourth through hole
121 formed at the center of the engaging elastic member 120, and the size
and position of the fourth through hole 121 correspond to those of the
first through hole 102 of the first holder plate 101 and the second
through hole 112 of the fixing base plate 110;

[0030] a magnetic head module 130, being passed into the first through
hole 102, the second through hole 112 and the fourth through hole 121,
wherein a partial surface of the magnetic head module 130 is exposed from
the gap 104 between the first holder plate 101 and the second holder
plate 103 for contacting a card and reading data; and

[0031] an electrically conductive plate 140, being electrically coupled to
the magnetic head module 130 for transmitting data of the card read by
the magnetic head module 130 to a specific electronic device, such as a
printed circuit board and a central processing unit for processing data.

[0032] In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
fixing base plate 110 is fixed onto the first holder plate 101 by a screw
connection. However, the fixing base plate 110 can be fixed onto the
first holder plate 101 by a soldering or engaging method in a practical
application.

[0033] In addition, two vertical stop plates 122a, 122b are installed
separately on both sides of the fourth through hole 121 of the engaging
elastic member 120, so that when the magnetic head module 130 is passed
through the fourth through hole 121, the two stop plates 122a, 122b can
be used for fixing the magnetic head module 130 into a fixed position and
preventing them from being shaken and loosened.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 for another exploded view and a
perspective view of the fixing base plate 110, the engaging elastic
member 120 and the magnetic head module 130 in accordance with the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively, two
protruding pillars 114a, 114b are disposed separately on two protrusions
111a, 111b of the fixing base plate 110 and on a surface facing towards
the first holder plate 101 for fixing the engaging elastic member 120. On
the other hand, a circular engaging through hole 123 is formed at an end
of the engaging elastic member 120, and a rectangular positioning slot
124 formed at another end of the engaging elastic member 120, and when
both ends of the engaging elastic member 120 are passed through the third
through holes 113a, 113b, the engaging through holes 123 can be engaged
with the protruding pillar 114a of the fixing base plate 110 to further
enhance the stability of coupling the engaging elastic member 120 and the
fixing base plate 110, and the positioning slot 124 and the protruding
pillar 114b are loosely connected, so that when a card is in contact with
a magnetic head module 130, the magnetic head module 130 and the engaging
elastic member 120 will be propped up to a small distance. Now, the
positioning slot 124 and the protruding pillar 114b will be displaced
with respect to each other to produce a shock absorbing effect to provide
a stable pressure, so as to avoid the structure of the engaging elastic
member 120 from being deformed by the propping action.

[0035] With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the
improved elastic member structure of the magnetic head in accordance with
the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 8 and 9
are an exploded view and a perspective view of a fixing base plate, an
engaging elastic member and a magnetic head module in accordance with a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention with another viewing
angle, the improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head 2
comprises:

[0036] a base 200, comprising: a first holder plate 201, having a first
through hole 202 formed thereon; a second holder plate 203, having a side
coupled to a side of the first holder plate 201, and a gap 204 being
formed between the first holder plate 201 and the second holder plate
203, for passing a card and reading data;

[0037] a fixing base plate 210, being fixed to the first holder plate 201
and on a surface opposite to the adjacently coupled second holder plate
203, and having two protrusions 211a, 211b disposed separately on both
sides of the fixing base plate 210, and the two protrusions 211a, 211b
are bent in a direction opposite to the direction of connecting the
fixing base plate 210 with the first holder plate 201 and protruded, and
the two protrusions 211a, 211b and the central area of the fixing base
plate 210 are disposed on different planes, and a second through hole 212
is formed in the central area of the fixing base plate 210, and the size
and position of the second through hole 212 correspond to those of the
first through hole 202 of the first holder plate 201, and two third
through holes 213a, 213b are formed separately on both sides of the
second through hole 212, and the range of forming the third through hole
213a, 213b is extended to an edge of the protrusion 211a, 211b, and two
protruding pillars 214a, 214b are disposed separately on a surface of the
two protrusions 211a, 211b of the fixing base plate 210 facing the first
holder plate 201;

[0038] an engaging elastic member 220, being disposed on a surface of the
fixing base plate 210 opposite to the one adjacent to the first holder
plate 201, wherein both ends of the engaging elastic member 220 are
passed into the third through holes 213a, 213b respectively, and the
passed portion is placed between the protrusions 211a, 211b of the fixing
base plate 210 and the first holder plate 201, and a fourth through hole
221 is formed at the center of the engaging elastic member 220, and the
size and position of the fourth through hole 221 correspond to those of
the first through hole 202 of the first holder plate 201 and the second
through hole 212 of the fixing base plate 210;

[0039] a magnetic head module 230, being passed into the first through
hole 202, the second through hole 212 and the fourth through hole 221,
and a partial surface of the magnetic head module 230 is exposed from the
gap 204 between the first holder plate 201 and the second holder plate
203 for contacting a card and reading data; and

[0040] an electrically conductive plate 240, being electrically coupled to
the magnetic head module 230, for transmitting data of the card read by
the magnetic head module 230 to a specific electronic device such as a
printed circuit board and a central processing unit for processing data.

[0041] In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
fixing base plate 210 is fixed onto the first holder plate 201 by a screw
connection. However, the fixing base plate 210 can be fixed onto the
first holder plate 201 by a soldering or engaging method in a practical
application.

[0042] In addition, two vertical stop plates 222a, 222b are installed
separately on both sides of the fourth through hole 221 of the engaging
elastic member 220, so that when the magnetic head module 230 is passed
through the fourth through hole 221, the two stop plates 222a, 222b can
be used for fixing the magnetic head module 230 into a fixed position and
preventing them from being shaken and loosened.

[0043] The main difference between the second preferred embodiment and the
first preferred embodiment resides on that a engaging through hole 223a,
223b is formed separately at both ends of the engaging elastic member 220
of the second preferred embodiment, so that when both ends of the
engaging elastic member 220 are passed into the third through holes 213a,
213b respectively, the engaging through hole 223a, 223b of the engaging
elastic member 220 can be engaged with the protruding pillar 214a, 214b
of the fixing base plate 210 to further improve the stability of coupling
the engaging elastic member 220 to the fixing base plate 210. Although
the second preferred embodiment does not come with a positioning slot (as
indicated by 122 of the first preferred embodiment in FIG. 3), and cannot
have a displacement with respect to the protruding pillar 214a, 214b to
achieve a shock absorbing effect, various different flexible and
extendible materials are well developed and can be used for making the
engaging elastic member 220, so that the deformation caused by the
displacement can be reduced effectively, and the worn-out and damage of
the magnetic head module 230 or the card can be avoided. In addition, the
structure of devices can reduce assembling and positioning defects and
provide an easy control of the elasticity.

[0044] In summation, the overall structure and technical characteristics
of an improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head in accordance
with the present invention has the following advantages:

[0045] The present invention makes use of the connection between the
fixing base plate and the engaging elastic member to achieve the effect
of an insert-to-connect relation between the fixing base plate and the
engaging elastic member without using the screw connection method, so
that when the engaging elastic member or the magnetic head module are
removed for a repair or replacement, users simply need to release the
insert-to-connect relation between the fixing base plate and the engaging
elastic member. Compared with the prior art that requires unscrewing the
engaging elastic member, the present invention is time-saving,
labor-saving and easy-to-install.

[0046] In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
positioning slot is formed on the engaging elastic member and loosely
connected to the protruding pillar of the fixing base plate, so that when
the magnetic head module is in contact with a card, the magnetic head
module and the engaging elastic member will have a small displacement,
and the positioning slot and the protruding pillar will be displaced with
respect to each other. This arrangement can avoid the with respect to
from being deformed by rigidity and prevent the magnetic head module or
the with respect to from being damaged.

[0047] The engaging method adopted in the present invention can couple the
with respect to and the magnetic head module to avoid the non-uniform
pressure caused by the screw connection of the prior art, so as to
provide s stable pressure for coupling the magnetic head module to
improve the efficiency of reading cards.